Determining Optimal Solar Power Plant Location in Melaka, Malaysia: A GIS-Based Solutions

Abstract

The energy demand has risen dramatically in recent years as a result of population growth and the fast expansion of the global economy. Due to rising carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and increasing energy needs, Malaysia has recently intensified its efforts to encourage the development of renewable energy supplies. Despite the abundance of solar resources, the PV growth in underdeveloped countries such as Malaysia is moving slower. Malaysia has the advantage in solar energy generation since it is geographically close to the equator and has a significant solar generation potential due to its hot and sunny weather all year. Therefore the question here is, where is the most suitable place to build more solar power plants? What methods will we be using to find the most suitable place to build the solar power plant? In picking a place for such development, several factors must be examined, such as how effective the PV power station site is and how to decrease the overall cost of the project by minimising proximity to existing infrastructures while improving solar panel power production. A geographic information system (GIS) is a tool that can help to solve this challenge. In this case, we integrate economic, environmental, and technical variables such as solar radiation intensity, local physical terrain, environment, climate, and placement criteria such as distance from roads and rivers. As additional input factors, other geographical information data were used (solar radiation, digital elevation models (DEM), land cover, and temperature). Further analysis using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) was then applied to this study to get the suitable location based on the importance of the criteria. In order to build a cost-effective and high-performing solar project, a complete solar site assessment is required. The results of the study should give a decision support system model and map on determining the optimal locations of solar power plants in Melaka.